Opulent touch
Destined to be demolished, this small beach house was given a reprieve and transformed with a glamorous overhaul. Gordon and Belinda Herford lovingly refer to their home as a “little cubby”. A vast change to the palatial-sized houses they have built in the past, the small Sunshine Beach house caught their attention several years ago. But initially it was for all the wrong reasons.
An ugly duckling, with dated finishes, neglected gardens and a rotting balcony, the house had seen better days. Yet its location, just a short walk from the beach, convinced the former Sydneysiders it was worth salvaging. “Initially we thought it was a demolition job. It was very ordinary, but we were interested in taking on a renovation and the small scale of the house suited us,” Gordon explains.
With a keen eye for aesthetics — Belinda is a painter and Gordon a jeweller — the pair could see how the home might be dramatically transformed. “We wanted to work with what we had, rather than do major structural changes or add an extension,” Belinda explains. “So we aimed to keep its modest weatherboard beach shack appeal, but give it some opulence and make it more comfortable.”
Paint and lighting played a significant role in changing the mood and feel of the house. To modernise the ‘70s blue exterior, the timber facade was treated to lashings of white paint, while the front door was painted grey, setting the tone for the interior palette. Although unintentional, their colour choices of honey caramel, oyster grey and classic villa white matched the tones of their cats, Bella and Lu Lu. “It’s just what we naturally gravitated towards. They’re such calming colours,” Belinda says.
While it is typically found outside, Wattyl Solagard was used on the interior walls for its lustrous finish. In the main bedroom, Belinda employed her artistic skills and used a mottled technique to paint a feature wall in Porter’s Duchess Satin Ochre. Adding depth and texture, the colour beautifully complements a pair of bedside chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, as well as one of Belinda’s own works, Harvest, which was part of an exhibition collection.
Other favourite pieces include her paintings, Jute and Maize, which adorn hallway walls, a Norman Lindsay drawing and framed black-and-white photos of Bedarra Island where the couple were married and returned to celebrate their 10th anniversary last year. Directional downlights illuminate the pieces while table lamps, feature pendants and candles create a glowing ambience.
During the three-month renovation, Gordon and Belinda lived in just two rooms, allowing them to be on site to project manage major works, including the installation of a new kitchen, new bathroom cabinetry and plumbing, as well as the partial removal of the back deck. “The edges of it had rotted away so they simply chainsawed it off and it became a balcony,” Gordon says. “Because it faces west it is a great spot to sit in winter.”
In the living area the original hardwood floors were buffed and polished to reveal the beautiful timber grain. To create smaller, intimate areas in the open-plan living and dining room, chairs and sofas are grouped with rugs and a seagrass mat, while a cowhide beneath a large white lounge delineates a media area. Unable to find just the right pieces for the living area, the couple designed a coffee table and wall unit, which were custom made by Coast cabinet maker Tim Slade.
As the perfect finishing touch, rooms have been layered with luxurious texture. In the guest bedrooms they have used throws, beautifully upholstered chairs and sequined cushions to add a sense of softness in contrast to antique Javanese timber carvings mounted on the walls. Making use of every space, including the large garage, which also doubles as Belinda’s painting studio, the couple enjoy the ease and liveability of a compact home.
“Because we are so busy and spend so much time at work during the week, this place really suits us,” Gordon says, “It is like a convenient cubby house.” When Sunday rolls around, they enjoy nothing more than wandering down to the beach for a seafood picnic and a swim. Belinda’s latest exhibition, le jardin secret deux, is at the Sable Gallery, Quamby Place, Noosa Sound, until June 18.
Favourite spot
Belinda I really enjoy sitting in the media area next to the wall unit. It is a really relaxing spot to listen to music and it is where I keep my kaleidoscope, which Richard gave me as a birthday present.
Local hot spots
For all our curtains I went to Jan Muir Curtains in Noosa. The photos were framed at Noosa Picture Framing and for years I’ve bought all my canvases from Dave The Canvas Man from Eumundi.
Eating out
Ricky’s River Bar and Restaurant is like a lunch room as it’s right next door. For dinner we love Gustos in Noosaville and Costa Noosa in Sunshine Beach for coffee.
Story: Kylie Jackes, weekender Issue 630, June 10th, 2010.
Destined to be demolished, this small beach house was given a reprieve and transformed with a glamorous overhaul. Gordon and Belinda Herford lovingly refer to their home as a “little cubby”. A vast change to the palatial-sized houses they have built in the past, the small Sunshine Beach house caught their attention several years ago. But initially it was for all the wrong reasons.
An ugly duckling, with dated finishes, neglected gardens and a rotting balcony, the house had seen better days. Yet its location, just a short walk from the beach, convinced the former Sydneysiders it was worth salvaging. “Initially we thought it was a demolition job. It was very ordinary, but we were interested in taking on a renovation and the small scale of the house suited us,” Gordon explains.
With a keen eye for aesthetics — Belinda is a painter and Gordon a jeweller — the pair could see how the home might be dramatically transformed. “We wanted to work with what we had, rather than do major structural changes or add an extension,” Belinda explains. “So we aimed to keep its modest weatherboard beach shack appeal, but give it some opulence and make it more comfortable.”
Paint and lighting played a significant role in changing the mood and feel of the house. To modernise the ‘70s blue exterior, the timber facade was treated to lashings of white paint, while the front door was painted grey, setting the tone for the interior palette. Although unintentional, their colour choices of honey caramel, oyster grey and classic villa white matched the tones of their cats, Bella and Lu Lu. “It’s just what we naturally gravitated towards. They’re such calming colours,” Belinda says.
While it is typically found outside, Wattyl Solagard was used on the interior walls for its lustrous finish. In the main bedroom, Belinda employed her artistic skills and used a mottled technique to paint a feature wall in Porter’s Duchess Satin Ochre. Adding depth and texture, the colour beautifully complements a pair of bedside chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, as well as one of Belinda’s own works, Harvest, which was part of an exhibition collection.
Other favourite pieces include her paintings, Jute and Maize, which adorn hallway walls, a Norman Lindsay drawing and framed black-and-white photos of Bedarra Island where the couple were married and returned to celebrate their 10th anniversary last year. Directional downlights illuminate the pieces while table lamps, feature pendants and candles create a glowing ambience.
During the three-month renovation, Gordon and Belinda lived in just two rooms, allowing them to be on site to project manage major works, including the installation of a new kitchen, new bathroom cabinetry and plumbing, as well as the partial removal of the back deck. “The edges of it had rotted away so they simply chainsawed it off and it became a balcony,” Gordon says. “Because it faces west it is a great spot to sit in winter.”
In the living area the original hardwood floors were buffed and polished to reveal the beautiful timber grain. To create smaller, intimate areas in the open-plan living and dining room, chairs and sofas are grouped with rugs and a seagrass mat, while a cowhide beneath a large white lounge delineates a media area. Unable to find just the right pieces for the living area, the couple designed a coffee table and wall unit, which were custom made by Coast cabinet maker Tim Slade.
As the perfect finishing touch, rooms have been layered with luxurious texture. In the guest bedrooms they have used throws, beautifully upholstered chairs and sequined cushions to add a sense of softness in contrast to antique Javanese timber carvings mounted on the walls. Making use of every space, including the large garage, which also doubles as Belinda’s painting studio, the couple enjoy the ease and liveability of a compact home.
“Because we are so busy and spend so much time at work during the week, this place really suits us,” Gordon says, “It is like a convenient cubby house.” When Sunday rolls around, they enjoy nothing more than wandering down to the beach for a seafood picnic and a swim. Belinda’s latest exhibition, le jardin secret deux, is at the Sable Gallery, Quamby Place, Noosa Sound, until June 18.
Favourite spot
Belinda I really enjoy sitting in the media area next to the wall unit. It is a really relaxing spot to listen to music and it is where I keep my kaleidoscope, which Richard gave me as a birthday present.
Local hot spots
For all our curtains I went to Jan Muir Curtains in Noosa. The photos were framed at Noosa Picture Framing and for years I’ve bought all my canvases from Dave The Canvas Man from Eumundi.
Eating out
Ricky’s River Bar and Restaurant is like a lunch room as it’s right next door. For dinner we love Gustos in Noosaville and Costa Noosa in Sunshine Beach for coffee.
Story: Kylie Jackes, weekender Issue 630, June 10th, 2010.
